St. Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata
Situated to the left of the main door of Capela das Almas, the azulejo panel shown in the image depicts St. Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata, a popular theme rendered in different media, including stained glass and azulejo tilework, across Catholic churches all over the world.
As seen in the image, Francis, kneeling with his hands raised, receives wounds from the crucified Christ, who floats in the sky above him, through distinct rays running from each of Christ’s wounds.
This event is said to have taken place in 1224 on Mount La Verna, a remote mountain in Italy where Francis had gone to fast and pray. According to the accounts, a friar named Brother Leo was present in the vicinity when the vision occurred, though not directly witnessing it.
As seen in the panel, witnessing this event is another friar, likely representing Brother Leo, seated nearby holding a book. Visible in the distance is a monastery on the hillside.
No artist’s signature is visible on this particular panel, unlike several others on the lateral wall attributed to Eduardo Leite.
Given the importance of this episode to St. Francis’s iconography, this azulejo panel occupies a prominent place on the chapel’s facade, right next to the main door.
Another example of the depiction of the stigmata episode, rendered in stained glass, can be seen at Seville Cathedral‘s Capilla de San Francisco. Check this page more details: Seville Cathedral: St. Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata
Explore more about Capela das Almas
– Capela das Almas: Azulejo-Covered Façade and Lateral Wall
– Capela das Almas: Azulejo Panel Depicting St. Francis of Assisi Receiving the Stigmata
– Capela das Almas: Azulejo Panel Depicting the Mystical Marriage of St. Catherine
– Capela das Almas de Santa Catarina: Official Plaque Placed by Porto City Council
– Capela das Almas: St. Francis Performs the Miracle of the Spring
Copyright © 2026 by YatrikaOne. All rights reserved.
